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Lincoln Riley evaluates growth of Devan Thompkins

IMG_6598by:Nick Kosko•04/01/23•

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(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Lincoln Riley isn’t afraid to experiment with Devan Thompkins on the USC practice field. The EDGE rusher might line up at multiple positions this season.

There was a lot of growth over the offseason for Thompkins. Riley said his budding star made a nice transition from scout team to actually learning the defense.

Going into his second season, Thompkins could certainly be more valuable.

“We’re messing with him a little bit at several positions,” Riley said. “He’s worked mostly three technique and then some of the field end for us here. He’s doing some good things. Playing inside for him is a little new, but you look at his body and how he’s grown in a short amount of time, some of it is us maybe projecting towards the future a little bit of what he may grow into and what it looks fairly likely that he will.”

More than likely, Riley said Thompkins will play the EDGE position. If he can hone in his skills at that position, he adds another dimension to the USC defense.

“He’s probably more comfortable today playing out on the edge,” Riley said. “But obviously, we’re playing the long game a little bit so he’s gonna get a look at three and at the end here throughout the spring. He’s doing some good things. He’s learning. It’s one thing to be out there on a scout team and make plays.

“Now you’re kind of really zeroed in to really learning the defense and all of those reps coming there, so there is always a little bit of an adjustment period. He kind of had that early in the spring, but he’s started to flash.”

Thompkins did not play as a freshman last season. But he’ll go from learning with mental reps to learning multiple positions.

Heck, USC’s defense might need it to make improvements after last year’s up and down campaign.

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As a member of the Class of 2022, Thompkins was a three-star recruit out of Stockton (Calif.) Edison, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 46 overall prospect in the state, the No. 53 EDGE in the class and the No. 629 overall prospect in the class.